EUGENE, Ore. – It wasn’t the extent of growth UCLA wanted, but moral victories may be more realistic in this rebuilding season than ones that actually go in the `W’ column.

So a month after an absolute and complete unraveling in its only road game, there was progress for Coach Rick Neuheisel to point to after his heavy-underdog Bruins overcame several shots of adversity to remain close before eventually falling, 31-24, to Oregon on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

The offense shook off first-half sluggishness and the defense gave up a few big runs to the Ducks’ spread offense. But this loss wasn’t anything like the 59-0 debacle that UCLA suffered a month ago at BYU in its only other road game.

“We improve a lot each week,” UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers said. “If we keep doing that, that will be good for us. We’ve improved a lot since the beginning.”

Bruins quarterback Kevin Craft was 27-for-43 passing for 288 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

“There’s going to be a lot of things we’re sick about when we look at the tape,” Neuheisel said. “I thought the level of intensity that we played with in the second half was something that hopefully will be a standard setter for us.”

If the Bruins can take any solace out of this defeat, it is that receiver Terrence Austin was able to move his arms and legs after a scary fourth-quarter incident that left the Pacific-10 Conference’s noisiest stadium silent in fear and prayer.

UCLA had the ball and a chance to tie early in the fourth quarter, but the game turned on a scary hit.

Austin jumped to catch a pass, and when the ball hit his hands and ricocheted into the air, Oregon’s T.J. Ward smashed into him. The ball was intercepted by Jarius Byrd, but the more immediate concern was Austin.

His head crashed to the turf and he lay motionless. Trainers from both schools worked on him as he remained down for approximately 10 minutes. Concerned players of both teams congregated near him.

Austin was strapped to a body board, carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital.

UCLA officials said Austin was conscious and had movement in his extremities as he was being carted off. He was taken to River Bend Hospital to undergo tests for a possible neck injury and concussion.

“He was talking and the doctors said (tests were) precautionary,” Neuheisel said. “We send out thoughts and prayers to Terrence and his family, and we hope that he’ll be fine.”

The Bruins (2-4, 1-2 Pac-10) lost for the 11th time in 14 road games. Oregon (3-3, 3-1) remained in contention for the conference title.

“I thought we played as hard as we can play,” Neuheisel said. “It doesn’t mean we were playing error-free. It doesn’t mean that there weren’t lots of mistakes, but we played hard. I think we can build from that.”

UCLA trailed, 14-0, at halftime, but used a 31-yard punt return by Austin to climb within striking distance. The key play on a 34-yard scoring drive was a third-down, 24-yard completion to Dominique Johnson. Three plays later, freshman Derrick Coleman scored on a 1-yard plunge to make 14-7 with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter.

It was UCLA’s first points in seven quarters on the road this season.

After Neuheisel’s beleaguered offense finally managed a road touchdown, he opted for the element of surprise to try and capitalize on the momentum.

But a third-quarter onside kick went out of bounds, giving the Ducks the ball on the Bruins’ 37-yard line. Four plays later, Oregon scored, and used that play to take a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

The onside kick was something the Bruins practiced all week, and the ball was there to be recovered. However, execution was sloppy as Michael Norris not only went offside, but also wasn’t able to corral the football as he was ruled out of bounds when he touched it.

Already buoyed by Masoli’s running (128 first-half yards), Oregon started the possession with a 4-yard run by the quarterback. LeGarrette Blount capped the four-play drive with a 6-yard scoring run to give the Ducks a 21-7 lead.

UCLA quickly responded with an 87-yard scoring drive, pulling within 21-14 with 27 seconds left in the third quarter when Kahlil Bell scored on a 2-yard plunge. The score came after Oregon appeared to intercept Craft in the end zone, but a pass-interference penalty was called on Oregon, giving the Bruins the ball on the 2-yard line.

In the closing minutes, the Bruins cut Oregon’s lead to 24-17 with a field goal, but gave the points right back when Blount broke two tackles and ran 69 yards for a touchdown with 2:22 to play to make it 31-17.

UCLA pulled within 31-24 on Jeff Miller’s 1-yard touchdown catch, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Oregon.

“I had a real chance for it,” Johnson said. “I thought I had it, but I just missed it. That’s how the game was, close but we couldn’t do it in the end.”